Velocipede or polycycle



(No Model.)

C. YINGST. VELOCIPBDE 0R POLYCYCLE.

l Patented Mar. 8, 1.898.

IAR

UNTTED STATES PATENT EEICE.

CYRUS YINGST, OF ANNVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

VELOCIPEDE OR POLYCYCLE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,471, dated March 8, 1898.

Application filed December 19, 1896. Serial No. 616,317. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYRUS YINGST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Annville, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes or Polycycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to improvements in velocipedes or polycycles which are constructed in a novel manner for carrying the rider who propels the machine by working the crank-shaft and for sustaining a childs support, which may be detached or applied in a moments time.

The object of my invention is Yto simplify the construction of the machine by providing a strong cheap frame and a peculiar steering device which can be controlled by the simple movement of the lever.

A further object of the invention is to pro-v vide a spring-seat for the rider, which is constructed in a novel manner to permit the seat to rock and cushion itself against jars and shocks when the machine travels over a rough place in the roadway.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple support for carrying a child in advance of the riders seat, the means for holding the receptacle being so arranged as to permit the receptacle being suspended so it may yield to ease the jar and shock.

To the accomplishment of these ends my invention consists of the novel combination and construction of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

l have illustrated my improved velocipede in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my velocipede with the childs receptacle detached in order to more clearly show the steering devices. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the childs carriage. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view through the king-bolt, reach, and head-block, showing a part of the steer ing device. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view through apart of the riders seat to show the means for sustaining the same.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the iigures of the drawings.

The main frame A of my improved vehicle is a horizontal low-down structure to enable the rider to easily mount the seat or to dis mount from the machine without the aid of steps and without requiring to climb up over the machine. As shown in the drawings, one embodiment of this low-down frame is a composite structure partly of wood and partly of metal, but the frame may be made wholly of wood or metal, as desired. The rear part of the frame shown herein consists of the side rails a a, the rear cross-rail a', and the middle tie-bar a", all of which are strongly united together by bolts or other suitable fastenings, and the front part of the frame consists of the metallic rods or bars Z) b', which are curved at their rear ends, as at bf, and rig idly united, as by bolts, to the front ends of the side rails c a, said ends b b being ar ranged somewhat closer together than the rails ct a and forming practically continuations of the side rails. The front ends of the metallic bars or rods b b are curved outward, as at 13"', to form supports for the two front uprights or rods for the childs receptacle, and these rods or bars b b are joined by the head-block B, which is fastened, as by bolts or clips, to the rods or bars bb at points in rear of the outturned ends 5' thereof.

C is the front axle, and D is a reach. The rear part of the reach is formed with an npturned or step-like end d, which is rigidly fastened to the middle tie-bara" of the frame. The reach is arranged at the middle of the frame and extends from said bar a above the axle C and forward beyond said axle. The axle has its upper face at the middle portion thereof formed with the bearing-faces c c, separated bya grooved or recessed part c between the raised bearing-faces, and through this recessed part c' passes the reach bar or rod D. r

The steering mechanism comprises the horizontal toothed yoke E, the rock-shaft F, and the toothed segment G. The yoke E lies in a horizontal position above the reach and in rear of the head-block, and the ends of the yoke are united by a plate c, the ends of the yoke and the plate being fastened to the axle C by bolts c', which pass through the parts j to fasten the yoke rigidly tothe axle.

1 of the reach, and the axle, whereby the yoke E may turn with the axle O on the king-bolt as a center. The upper end of the king-bolt is braced by a strap h, which has one end attached to the king-bolt and its other end fastened to the protruding front end of the reach D. This yoke has its upper face toothed, as at e", and with these teeth mesh the teeth on the lower curved edge of the segment G, which is rigidly fastened to the front endof the rock-shaft F. The rock-shaft is arranged in a horizontal position above the reach D, and it is journaled in openings in vertical standards d', which are fastened to the reach D. The shaft F has its rear end formed into an angular arm f, to which is fastened the handle f', which lies within convenient reach of the rider and is adapted to swing to the right or left for the purpose of rocking the shaft F and swinging the segment G to turn the yoke and axle C, as maybe required, to steer the vehicle.

J is the rear axle7 which is journaled in suitable bearings on the side rails a a of the frame, and on the axles C J are suitable carrying-wheels I.

The mechanism for propelling the vehicle consists of the double crank-shaft K, the sprocket-wheels L L', and the chain L". The shaft K'has its ends journaled in suitable bearings on the side rails a a of the frame, and on the cranks of said shaft are fitted the pedals lo, on which the rider rests the feet to apply power to said shaft, the motion of which is transmitted through the wheels and chain to the rear axle to propel the machine. Over lthe chain and wheels is arranged the fender or guard M, which is attached by clips or brackets m to one of the rails a, said fender serving to prevent the dress or skirts of a lady rider from being caught in or entangled with the chain or wheels.

The riders seat consists of a transverse board O, sustained in an elevated position above the main carrying-frame by devices which permit a rocking cushion motion of the seat. The seat is provided with transverse battens o o on its lower side, and it may be upholstered or finished in any suitable way, as may be desired. Through the seat and its battens are formed the guide openings or slots o o', which are near the side edges of the seat, and in the middle line of the seat near the ends thereof are provided other openings or slots o", which receive the lower threaded ends of the suspending rods or bolts P. To each of the two side rails a. a of the machine is fastened a vertical yoke-shaped standard, two of which are provided on the machine for the support of the riders seat and are indicated at Q Q in the drawings.

Each standard is bent or formed from a piece of metal to the shape of a yoke, consisting of the legs q q and the head or crosspiece q'. The legs of the standard are fixed in the side rail a, preferably by passing them through openings in the rail and screwing nuts on the threaded ends of the legs, and the legs are passed through the openings or slots 0 in the seat O, which is thus slidably or loosely fitted on the standards and is adapted to rock thereon. The heads or crosspieces of the standards are provided with enlarged central bosses fr, formed with eyes r', and through these eyes pass the suspending rrods or bolts P P, the headed upper ends of which bear upon the bosses r, and the lower threaded ends of which rods or bolts are screwedL into nuts p, that are countersunk in the cross heads or blocks R R. On the legs of the yoke-shaped standards are fitted the cross-blocks R R', perforated or slotted at their ends and middle to receive the legs q q and the nuts p for rods or bolts P P. These cross-blocks are thus loosely fitted on the standards, and they lie above and parallel to the seat O for the purposeof leaving spaces between said seat and the cross-blocks to accommodate the cushion-springs R R, a pair of which springs is provided between and attached to each cross-block and the end of the seat O. The springs of each pair are arranged on opposite sides of the rod or bolt, and the ends of the springs are seated against the cross-block and the seat or in sockets provided therein.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the cross heads or blocks R R are fitted to slide loosely on the yoke-shaped standards, that these cross heads or blocks are attached to the suspension bolts or rods to be upheld thereby in a manner to be adjusted vertically when the screws or bolts are rotated, that the seat is suspended by the springs from the cross heads or blocks, and that the enlarged openings or slots o' o in the seat and its battens enable the seat to rock or tilt sidewise in the yoke-shaped standards. The cross-heads being suspended by the rods or bolts P and the seat being suspended by the springs from the cross-heads and loosely connected to the standards, the seat can be adjusted vertically by the rods to suit the convenience of the rider and at the same time the seat is fre'e to rock or tilt and to be cushioned by the springs.

The childs receptacle is indicated at S in the drawings. As shown, it consists of a bottom s, a cage or inclosure s', united to the bottom, and a pair of cross-rails s", which are fastened to the bottom near the ends thereof, the cross-rails having their ends projected beyond the sides of the receptacle, as shown, for the attachment of the coiled suspendingsprings T T. The upper ends of these coiled springs are provided with loops or eyes t, which are fitted on the hooks u, formed on the upper ends of the uprights U. Four of these uprights and four springs T are pro- IOO IIO

vided for suspending the receptacle, a spring and upright being` arranged at each corner of the receptacle. The two rear uprights for the receptacle are attached to the side rails a d in a suitable way, and the two front uprights are fastened to the outturned ends 6 of the rods Z) b', as shown. The childs receptacle is supported on the vehicle at a suitable distance in front of the riders seat O, so as to enable the rider to propel and steer the vehicle without hindrance from the receptacle and also leave ample room between the seat and receptacle for the rider to dismount from the machine or to occupy the seat without hindrance. The receptacle may be easily removed or attached by properly adjusting the springs, and said receptacle is yieldingly suspended by the springs to im part au easy cushion motion to it.

It is thought that the operation and advantages of my improved velocipede will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction herein shown and described as the preferred embodiment of my invention may be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as fairly fall Within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a velocipede, the combination with the yoke-shaped standards, of a rocking "or tilting seat loosely and slidably tted thereon, the cross-heads fitted to the standards, the cushion-springs connected to the seat and to the cross-heads, and the adjusting and suspension bolts fitted to the standards and connected to the cross-heads, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

2. In a velocipede, the combination of the standards, the cross-heads slidably fitted on the standards, the seat also fitted slidably on the standards below the cross-heads and having the guidebpenings at the middle thereof, the suspension-springs connected to the crossheads and the seat to yieldingly suspend the latter from the cross-heads, and the adjustin g-bolts swiveled to the standards, connected to the cross-heads, and tted loosely inthe guide-openings of the seat, whereby the bolts may adjust the cross-heads, the springs and the seat within the standards, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CYRUS YINGST.

XVitnesses:

W. C. M. HIEsTER, H. LUCIAN KINPERT. 

